The bullfighter from Extremadura, Tomás Angulo, was seriously injured last Saturday at the Moralzarzal bullring while competing in the second phase of the Copa Chenel. He sustained two goring wounds that severely compromised his femoral artery. Following a nearly two-hour surgical intervention in the mobile ICU, necessitated by the extensive internal damage, he was transferred to the General Hospital of Villalba, where he was admitted in a state of shock.
The incident occurred with the second bull of the afternoon, from the Valdefresno ranch, as Angulo was working with the muleta. When the bullfighters managed to free him, he was quickly taken to the infirmary with significant bleeding from his face. The medical report indicated a bullhorn wound on the upper anterior thigh of his left leg, with a trajectory of approximately 20 centimeters upwards, affecting the femoral artery for about 7 centimeters, and also causing muscle tears.
Despite the force of the impact, the bullfighter, originally from Almendralejo, chose to remain in the ring and suffered a second fall. Subsequent examinations revealed that a wound on the posterior aspect of his left thigh, measuring about 15 centimeters, posed the greatest clinical danger, having directly reached the femur and caused severe muscle damage in the area. The medical report also noted a contusion on the right hemithorax, wounds to the scalp and face, and a goring in the posterior part of his right thigh.
“"The goring wound mentioned in the report has swollen overnight and could cause him a spasm (narrowing) or thrombosis (blockage) in the artery. Today they will assess whether to operate on his right leg, which is the healthy one."
The medical team attending to Tomás Angulo is considering a second intervention due to the risk of spasm or thrombosis, after observing inflammation in the affected area. According to Carmelo López reporting for Aplausos, the swelling of the wound overnight could lead to arterial complications. His right leg, being unaffected, will be evaluated to determine the necessity of further surgery.
Angulo remains under strict medical observation at the Hospital de Villalba, facing a lengthy recovery period after this harrowing incident. It is reported that on his left leg, despite the severity, "he has a piece of horn that could have been much worse. He has all his hamstrings torn out, literally his left thigh split. The horn tore the sartorius muscle, and it's a miracle it didn't touch any major vessels."
